Transformer housing and cord reel assembly



March 16, 1965 J, 1-. ARMBRUSTER 3,173,986

TRANSFORMER HOUSING AND CORD REEL ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 JOl-IA/ 7: AQMBEUSTEP March 16,. 1965 J. T. ARMBRUSTER 3,173,986

TRANSFORMER HOUSING AND CORD REEL ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 1, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN T APMBPUS TE? United States Patent 3.172 98% TRANSFORMER HUUSING AND CORD REEL ASSEMBLY John T. Armbruster, Niagara Falls, N.Y., assignor to American Optical Company, Southhridge, Mass. Filed Feb. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 255,577 4 Claims. (til. 174 512.)

This invention relates to electrical accessories and, in particular, pertains to a packaging assembly for transformers and the like.

In the medical equipment field, for example, it is desirable to provide portable equipment which may use a low voltage source of electrical power. In order to render such equipment readily portable, an associated transformer assembly must be provided and, such transformer assembly must include sufficient lengths of con due-tors for connection to a conventional electrical outlet and for connection to the associated instrument. Naturally, with such equipment, it is desirable to place the conductors in compact form for storage and, at the same time, it is desirable to permit such placement of the conductors at a minimum of client on the users part. It is therefore, of primary concern in connection with the present invention to provide a compact and easily portable transformer assembly which includes special means for storing the electrical conductors when not in use.

Essentially, the present invention is directed to a pacl age assembly for transformers and the like wherein the electrical equipment is housed within a body which is provided with a pair of channels for the reception of the electrical conductor means in stored condition wherein the arrangement of component parts of the assembly is such as to minimize the effort involved in storing the electrical conductors while, at the same time, providing an efficient, compact and effective storage thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compact assemblage for the purposes above defined in which the several component parts thereof are effectively held together by a plurality of through-bolt members which also serve to secure the electrical components within the assemblage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan View, partly broken away, showing the assemblage constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken through the assembly shown in FIG. 1 substantially along the plane of section line 22 in that figure;

PEG. 3 is a side elevational view of the assemblage showing the conductors extended therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to P18. 3 but showing the connector ends of the conductors anchored to the body of the assembly and forming loops thereby;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing the conductors partially wound in the respective channels of the assemblage;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the bight ends of the conductors retained within the channel assembly;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 77 in FIG. 6 illustrating the manner in which the bight ends of the loops are anchored by the flange portion of the channels;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view illustrating the openings for receiving the connectors at the ends of the con- Patented Mar. 16, 1965 duotors for anchoring the same to the body of the assemblage; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the device illustrating the conductors stored within their respective channel members.

Referring at this time more particularly to FIG. 2, the package assembly is indicated therein generally by the reference character 10 and will be seen to consist of a main body portion comprising the complemental sections 12 and 14 which, for the purpose of economy, can be similarly formed, each having a main body portion formed by the marginal wall 16 thereof and each being provided with a top Wall 18 which, as is shown, may be provided with an opening 20 therein for the purpose of conserving material and in the interest of lightness of weight. Each of the body sections 12 and 14 is also provided with a parting face-defining flange such as those indicated by reference characters 22 and 24 for the respective sections 12 and 14, it being noted that these flanges 22 and 24 extend girt'nwise around the assemblage in circumferentially outstanding relationship to the main body portion of the device.

The assembly also includes a top cover member 26 and a bottom cover member 28 which, it will be noted, are of iarger dimensions than the main body portions of the sections 12 and 14 so that a marginal region of each cover plate, as indicated by reference characters 30 and 32, project laterally beyond the respective main body portions to form circumferentially extending flanges which are spaced from and disposed generally in parallelism with the respective flanges 22 and 24. Thus, the flanges 22- and 30 together with the intervening side wall 16 form a channel 34 whereas the counterparts of these assemblies form a lower channel 36, substantially as is shown.

It is to be noted that the two cover plates 26 and 23 are provided with associated through-bolt means such as that indicated by the reference character 38 which serves to interconnect these cover plates and thereby sandwich all of the component parts of the body therebetwee-n. For example, it will be noted that the nut 40 in each case is associated with the top cover plate 26 and cooperates with thebolt member -52 in each instance which is effective to sandwich the two assemblies 12 and 14 between the cover plates and consequently secure and locate all of the component parts relative to each other. In addition to the function of securing the parts together as aforesaid, the through-bolt means may also conveniently be utilized to secure the transformer assembly 44 within the confines of the housing and, for this purpose, it will be noted that the bolt members 42 of certain of the through-bolt means may be passed through the transformer 44 as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that the same is properly held in place as aforesaid. The primary and secondary windings of the transformer 44 are connected to conductor members 46 and 48 so that the inner ends of these conductors are anchored within the assemblage and it will be noted that suitable openings are provided in the side walls 16 of the upper and lower sections 12 and 14 to pass these conductors 46 and 48, suitable grommets 50 and 52 being provided if desired. The free ends or extremities of the conductors 46 and 48 are provided with connectors 54 and 55 which, in the specific instance shown, are, respectively, for connection to a standard power supply and to a medical instrument or the like.

As can be best seen in FIG. 8, the side wall 16 of the upper section 12 is provided with an opening 558 adjacent the point at which the conductor 46 passes outwardly of the body through the channel 34 and the side wall 16 of the lower section 14 is provided with an opening 60 adjacent the point at which the conductor 48 emerges. It will be understood that the size and shape of these openings 58 and 60 is chosen such as to receive, in each case, the respective connector 54 or 56 to permit the same to be disposed within the confines of the body assemblage, substantially as is shown in MG. 4, and to serve as an anchoring point for the free ends of the conduotors 46 and 48. Thus, when it is desired to store the assemblage, the connectors 5 2 and 56 inserted into their respective openings 58 and oil in the manner substantially as is shown in FIG. 4 to provide loops 62 and 64 which are substantially half the length of each conductor 46 and 48. Ultimately, these loops 62 and 64 are wound upon the sections 12: and 14 within their respective channels 34 and 36 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 and the bight portions 66 and are equipped by the aforesaid flanges in the manner illustrated best in FiGS. 6 and 7. For this purpose, it is preferred, as is shown best in FIG. 2, that the channeldefining flanges 22, 24, 3t) and 32 terminate along their edges with mutually inwardly directed retaining lip portions such as those indicated by reference characters 7d and '72 in FIG. 2 to provide looking or retaining means behind which the bight portions as and 68 may be engaged in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7.

From the above, it will be clear that neat, compact and efficient package assembly is provided by the mechanism described. Additionally, it will be appreciated that with the assemblage as described, a relatively long cord or conductor assembly is provided, without requiring a lengthy or awkward procedure for storing the conductor. For example, if a twelve foot length of conductor is desired, then each conductor means 46 and would be approximately six feet in length whereas, at the same time, it Will be appreciated that each of the loops 62 and 64- of FIG. 4 will only be of three foot length and, due to the placement and disposition of the conductor means, it will be appreciated that they can be simultaneously Wound or wrapped within their channels 34 and 36 simply by holding the assemblage lid in one hand while effecting the simultaneous wrapping or winding operation with the other hand. In this fashion, for a twelve foot effective length of conductor, only three feet need be wrapped and the conductors 4d and 48 will neatly wind within the channels 34 and 35 and when the winding operation is completed, it is necessary simply to press the bight 66 and 68 of the conductors to lock within the channels in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7, the completed assembly when in the stored position being illustrated in FIG. 9. Incidental to this construction, it

will be appreciated that the conductors $6 and 43 will not tend to twist when wrapped in the manner specifically set forth hereinabove and, of course, it will be appreciated that the spacing between the several flanges defining the channels 34 and 36 will be such as to provide a good locking action with the particular type of conduotors' i and 48 utilized. That is to say, the conductors will have sutficient resiliency to form large enough bights as to spring against the opposed side surfaces of the channels 34 and 36 and be retained behind the lips '70 and 72 as previously mentioned.

It is to be undersotod that certain changes and modifications as illustrated and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim: '1. An electrical component package assembly comprising, in combination,

a pair of complemental housing members, each having a main body portion provided with a parting face defined by a circumferentially extending flange, top and bottom cover plates and through-bolt means interconnecting said top and bottom plates to sand- (5. wich the main body portions of said housing members therebetween with said parting faces thereof interengaged,

said cover plates being larger than said main body portions to project marginal thereof and define channels with respective ones of said flanges,

a pair of electrical conductor members, each having one end anchored Within the confines of the package assembly and passing outwardly thereof through the confines of a respective channel, and each conductor member terminating in an electrical outlet plug at its free end,

the main body portion of each housing member having an opening therein for receiving and anchoring a respective electrical outlet plug so that each conductor member is looped for wound reception in its respective channel,

the projecting portions of the top and bottom cover plates being spaced apart to grip the bight of each conductor member when looped as aforesaid,

and a transformer secured within and assembly by said through-bolt means.

2. A transformer package assembly comprising a hollow body having laterally projecting and girthwise extending flange means,

top and bottom cover means having marginal portions coextensive with said flange means and defining top and bottom channels therewith,

a transformer secured within said hollow body and having primary and secondary conductors connected thereto,

each conductor extending exteriorly of said body through a respective one of said channels and each terminating in an electrical outlet plug,

said body having an opening in each channel adjacent the point at which a respective conductor passes therethrough, for receiving an anchoring the electrical outlet plug of the respective conductor thereat whereby each conductor is looped for wound reception Within its respective channel,

the flange portions of each channel being spaced apart to grip the bight of each loop so formed.

3. A transformer package assembly comprising a hollow body having laterally projecting and girthwise extending flange means,

top and bottom cover means having marginal portions coextensive with said flange means and defining top and bottom channels therewith,

a transformer secured within said hollow body and having primary and secondary conductors connected thereto,

each conductor extending exterio-rly of said body through a respective one of said channels and each terminating in an electrical outlet plug,

said body having an opening in each channel adjacent the point at which a respective conductor passes therethrough, for receiving and anchoring the electrical outlet plug of the respective conductor thereat whereby each conductor is looped for wound reception within its respective channel,

the flange portions of each channel being spaced apart to grip the bight of each loop so formed,

and said marginal portions and said flange means defining each of said channels having mutually inwardly directed retaining lips.

4. A transformer package assembly comprising a hollow body having laterally projecting and girthwise extending flange means,

top and bottom cover means having marginal portions coextensive with said flange means and defining top and bottom channels therewith,

a transformer secured within said hollow body and having primary and secondary conductors connected thereto,

each conductor extendins exteriorly of said body through a respective one of said channels and each terminating in an electrical outlet plug,

said body having an opening in each channel adjacent the point at which a respective conductor passes therethrough, for receiving and anchoring the electrical outlet plug of the respective conductor therewhereby each conductor is looped for wound reception within its respective channel,

the flange portions of each channel being spaced apart to grip the bight of each loop so formed,

said body being formed of completental sections,

through-bolt means joining such sections,

and said transformer being held Within said body by said through-bolt means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,957 5/36 Smith 336-92 X 1,482,891 2/24 Ghegan 200-9O X 2,003,527 6/35 Bacon et a1. 33692 X 2,561,556 7/51 Bell 19112.4 X 3,042,739 7/62 Craig 174-66 FOREIGN PATENTS 94,155 4/22 Switzerland.

LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner.

JOHN P. WILDMAN, Examiner. 

2. A TRANSFORMER PACKAGE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY HAVING A LATERALLY PROJECTING AND GIRTHWISE EXTENDING FLANGE MEANS, TOP AND BOTTOM COVER MEANS HAVING MARGINAL PORTIONS COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID FLANGE MEANS AND DEFINING TOP AND BOTTOM CHANNELS THEREWITH, A TRANSFORMER SECURED WITHIN SAID HOLLOW BODY AND HAVING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONDUCTORS CONNECTED THERETO, EACH CONDUCTOR EXTENDING EXTERIORLY OF SAID BODY THROUGH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID CHANNELS AND EACH TERMINATING IN AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET PLUG, SAID BODY HAVING AN OPENING IN EACH CHANNEL ADJACENT THE POINT AT WHICH A RESPECTIVE CONDUCTOR PASSES THERETHROUGH, FOR RECEIVING AN ANCHORING THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET PLUG OF THE RESPECTIVE CONDUCTOR THEREAT WHEREBY EACH CONDUCTOR IS LOOPED FOR WOUND RECEPTION WITHIN ITS RESPECTIVE CHANNEL, THE FLANGE PORTIONS OF EACH CHANNEL BEING SPACED APART TO GRIP THE BIGHT OF EACH LOOP SO FORMED. 